First year of career academy exceeds expectations

Yadkin Valley Regional Career Academy freshman Trey Roach said the school opening in Davidson County this school year was a blessing in disguise.

BY DENEESHA EDWARDSThe Dispatch

Yadkin Valley Regional Career Academy freshman Trey Roach said the school opening in Davidson County this school year was a blessing in disguise — not only for students but also for the community. "This school could be a good opportunity to bring work to the area," he said. "I definitely feel like this school is preparing us for future jobs. We focus a lot on creating new things and advancing (and) moving forward. I'm glad I came here. I don't see this as work. I see it as a great time."Roach joined an inaugural class with 46 other students representing all three local school systems who attend the academy that is on the campus of Davidson County High School on Holly Grove Road."It's unusual to have the mix we have," said Roach, who is from the northern part of the county. "We have fresh teachers (and) students. I appreciate everything we're learning. It all revolves around a business concept. What we learn in the classroom is shown how it will be applied to the real world. My favorite part is the closeness. I'm not a number here."The doors to the academy opened in August as an innovative approach to education and the business industry. "We mirror a business environment," said James Fitzgerald, principal/chief executive officer of the academy. "Anytime you open a trailblazing and innovative institution there's going to be hills and valleys. Overall it's been a successful year."The academy was developed to address the science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, concept as well as entrepreneurship, training the workforce and 21st century work skills."All of those characteristics rolled together are tremendously powerful," said Barry Sink, co-chairman of the advisory board. "It has exceeded our expectations," Sink said. "The staff has been terrific as far as adapting this new method of teaching and instruction. We have been extremely successful engaging businesses in the community who actively engaged in supporting this school. I'm very pleased with the state of the school. We're looking at raising the bar. It really is just starting. We have developed a model that is definitely nowhere else in North Carolina."Unique is the word freshman Austin Martin used to describe the school. He said there is nothing similar in the area that offers what the academy does."I have never seen a school as dedicated to teamwork and work ethic," he said. "We have the best teachers out of all the teachers. They are really good."Creating something differentAustin, who was supposed to attend Lexington Senior High School this year, applied to the career academy as well as Davidson Early College because he felt the normal school setting was not for him.Austin always felt ahead of his classmates by receiving high test scores. He said the regular classroom was becoming kind of boring to him.The career academy "sounded like it would be a better experience," Austin said. "It's fun to be the first class here. It's been a great experience with the people — teachers, students — you get to meet."The school was developed to build a workforce to drive growing industries, increase high school graduation and college rates, as well as prepare students for higher education and employment in regional industries. "So far it's been great," said freshman Liz Delapp. "A regular high school focuses on regular classes — history, English, geometry, etc. This school intertwines all of our subjects together. It is definitely different — the teaching styles … the school life. It's new, unique and very different. I think they pulled it off." Liz chose to try the school and not attend North Davidson High School. She was thrilled she didn't have to endure being in a school that's overcrowded. She also mentioned it was hard to get into the classes she wanted because so many students attend NDHS."I have gotten to know everyone deeper here," she said. "I met a lot of new friends. The experience as a student has been great."The school started with 51 students and has 47 students now enrolled. Fitzgerald said he expects the vast majority of the students to return for a second year. A handful of the students left because they moved outside of the district. That's the case for freshman Dar Overbey, whose family will move to Wilmington in the fall. He will return to Ledford High School next school year until he moves. Dar thought it would be hard to transfer in the middle of the school year from the academy to a regular high school. "It's been great," he said. "I've enjoyed every minute of it. I hate to leave. My favorite part has been the new experiences and meeting people from all over Davidson County. I think (the academy is) a great idea. It's a great experience to branch out in the college world without leaving high school. We need more schools like this one."Learning by observing"You get to learn a lot and see how life will be in the real world. We learn a lot by observing," said freshman Alondra Martinez. "There's more flexibility in our schedules. The teachers understand situations and work around them. It's not a regular routine. It's different every day."Alondra, from the west Davidson area, said the school offers more opportunities. She said from day one it sounded like more teamwork-based activities. Although Alondra thought teamwork would help her in life, she also admits that has been the hardest thing for her, too. She said students had to learn how to work together because some were independent, some work at different paces, and some had different ways of learning. Alondra also plays tennis for West Davidson High School, which allows her to stay in touch with her friends. She also noted that playing sports helps her exercise the teamwork skills outside of school."You have to learn how to cope with people that are different. It's been good learning how to work with others," she said. The school operates through a project-based learning technique. Students follow three career paths that focus on advanced manufacturing, global logistics and health sciences."We challenge the students not only academically but socially," Fitzgerald said. "I'm really proud of the effort that our students have put in. They have been asked to take on significant challenges that typically freshmen don't get. I'm really proud of the growth our students and teachers have shown."Austin has enjoyed the class projects throughout the school year because a majority of them require the students to present information. Those speaking engagements will help students after they graduate and enter the working world, Austin said.He also enjoys having a small group of students because it's easier to get to know each other."Everyone is so close here. We're getting to know everyone on a personal level as well as (their) abilities," Austin said. The hardest thing for Trey was adapting to some of the teaching styles. He said concepts were a little different because the teachers do not directly teach the subject matter. The students have to push themselves to learn the information by working together to figure out a solution, Trey said. He said once he picked up the concept, it made things a lot easier."It becomes sort of a drive. You learn it better if you want to learn," Trey said.Throughout the school year students took field trips to a water treatment plant, Davidson County Airport to learn about AirCare services and Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center to hear about the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine. They also had several guest speakers such as a Duke University professor, politicians, representatives from the school's steering committee, Steve Snelgrove, the president of Wake Forest Baptist Health — Lexington Medical Center, and many officials in the nonprofit arena. "The mind-set during the first year is exposure," Fitzgerald said. "We tried to expose them not only to the work environment, but we wanted them to hear from the experts, too."Looking to next yearWhen the academy starts next school year, a new group of freshmen will be added to the academy. Fitzgerald said they had 100 applications and 75 slots for incoming freshmen. Letters were sent home last week to students selected through a lottery system. The school is waiting to hear back from students who commit to attend next year.Fitzgerald said the academy empowered the students to take control of their learning by engaging in a marketing project to recruit eighth-graders. The current freshmen crafted a strategy that consisted of a video and instructional flyer. The group of students even created a focus group of community members, parents, eighth-graders and faculty members within Davidson County Schools to gather information on what the public did and didn't know about the school. "It was pretty interesting as the founding students advertising the whole school," Liz said. "It was great. We're going to have to be role models for next school year."Trey said it was very gratifying being part of the recruitment process. That's something the current freshmen didn't have, he said. They jumped out on a leap of faith."It was a privilege to create the image of what we wanted it to be. Everybody else has to model it. (The new students) have to be as great as we have been," he said.As the academy welcomes a new group of students, the freshmen will move up a grade where they will have the opportunity to explore more. This year students even took a study class at Davidson County Community College, which is one of the primary partners.Alondra is excited about the job shadowing opportunities that come next year when the students are sophomores. She is thinking about going into the health care arena, however she is unsure and thinks having the opportunity to visit jobs she has interest in would benefit her. Fitzgerald noted students will participate in at least one job shadowing project. He hopes by the end of next school year students will have a better idea what career path they would like to follow at DCCC.During the summer, staff will engage in professional development before returning to school. There are plans to hire two additional professionals next school year. The academy will start back up Aug. 7. Plans are under way for the other host county, Surry, to open its doors next fall. Due to a change in superintendents, local officials are not sure if that will happen. They are optimistic the school will still move forward, Sink said.Sink noted the school boards involved, students, parents and teachers all took a leap of faith with supporting the school. Sink along with Dr. Fred Mock, superintendent of Davidson County Schools, commended the Davidson County Board of Education for taking such a big risk."I'm really proud of the (Davidson County) school board. They took on a major risk in a downturn economy to allocate resources to this school," Mock said. "I'm elated that the three school systems and the community college came together and looked out for what's good for our children. It's been a fantastic year. It has exceeded expectations of the board of directors, CEO and steering committee. We're anxious about next year."As the school year comes to an end, the ninth-graders left advice for the incoming students. "Change the way you learn, socialize and think," Alondra said. Trey suggested when students work on projects, it's best to hear everybody out."When you're doing something look at it from every person's perspective," he said. "Always try. As long as you try, they can help you learn as you go. Be prepared because it is different."Liz said, "Be considerate of others. If you want respect, you're going to have to show respect. You have to step outside of your box. Understand everyone's perspectives. This school is all about stepping outside the box. Stay on track and get your team on track. You have to work."Deneesha Edwards can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 213, or at deneesha.edwards@the-dispatch.com.

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